10 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



quality and quantity of the gas produced from that material having given it a decided 

 preference in this situation over every other coal, notwithstanding its higher price. 



" The time during which the gas-light is used may, upon an average of the whole 

 year, be stated at least at two hours per day of twenty-four hours. In some mills where 

 there is over-work, it will be three hours ; and in the few where night-work is still 

 continued, nearly twelve hours. But, taking two hours per day as the common average 

 throughout the year, the consumption in Messrs. Phillips and Lee's mill will be 

 1 250 x 2 = 2500 cubic feet of gas per day ; to produce which seven hundred weight of 

 coal is required in the retorts. The price of the best Wigan cannel (the sort used) is 

 13rf. per cwt. (22s. 6d. per ton) delivered at the mill; or say about eight shillings for 

 the seven hundred weight. Multiplying by the number of working days in the year 

 (313), the annual consumption of cannel will be 110 tons, and its cost 125. 



" About one-third of the above quantity, or say forty tons of good common coal, value 

 ten shillings per ton, is required for fuel to heat the retorts ; the annual amount of 

 which is 20. 



" The 110 tons of cannel coal, when distilled, produce about 70 tons of good coke, 

 which is sold upon the spot at Is. 4d. per cwt., and will therefore amount annually to the 

 sum of 93. 



" The quantity of tar produced from each ton of cannel coal is from eleven to twelve ale 

 gallons, making a total annual produce of about 1250 ale gallons, which not having been 

 yet sold, I cannot determine its value : but whenever it comes to be manufactured in large 

 quantities, it cannot be such as to influence the economical statement, unless, indeed, 

 new applications of it should be discovered. 



" The quantity of aqueous fluid which came over in the course of the observations 

 which I am now giving an account of, was not exactly ascertained, from some springs 

 having got into the reservoir ; and as it has not been yet applied to any useful purpose, 

 I may omit further notice of it in this statement. 



" The interest of the capital expended in the necessary apparatus and buildings, toge- 

 ther with what is considered as an ample allowance for wear and tear, is stated by Mr'. 

 Lee at about 550 per annum, in which some allowance is made for this apparatus 

 being made upon a scale adequate to the supply of a still greater quantity of light than 

 he has occasion to make use of. 



" He is of opinion that the cost of attendance upon candles would be as much, if not 

 more, than upon the gas apparatus ; so that in forming the comparison, nothing need be 

 stated upon that score on either side. 



" The economical statement for one year stands thus : 



"Cost of 110 tons of cannel coal - - - 125 



40 common - 20 



145 



